Eight new Michigan wine producers were approved by the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council (MGWIC) in Lansing on Nov. 30, 2017, increasing the total number of Michigan wineries to 138.
To be approved, a winery must use a majority of Michigan fruit in their overall production in order to be considered for MGWIC’s promotion program. Recent additions include:
- Chateau Aeronautique Winery, Onsted
- Detroit Vineyards, Detroit
- Glass Creek Winery, Hastings
- Moonrise Winery, Watervliet
- Owl Wineries, Roseville
- Red Top Winery, Baroda
- Sabrosa Sangria, Shelby Township
- Spare Key Winery, Charlevoix
“The Council, which meets quarterly, typically reviews the eligibility of two to four new wineries at each meeting,” says Karel Bush, executive director of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council. “The fact that we had eight eligibility forms to review reinforces the continued growth of Michigan’s wine industry.”
Throughout Michigan, more than 2.7 million gallons of wine were produced and 3,050 acres of wine grape vineyards were maintained in 2016 by local wineries.
“Although a handful of our wine producers have been growing wine grapes here for decades, the number of wineries getting involved with this industry has skyrocketed in recent years,” says Bush. “There were only 49 producers of Michigan wine in 2007, which means the number of wineries has nearly tripled in the last 10 years.”
The addition of the eight new wineries comes after a recent economic impact study found Michigan’s wine industry generates an annual $5.4 billion economic impact, including $253 million in tourism spending in Michigan, $1.8 billion in wages, and $854 million in annual taxes.
“Michigan has a unique northern climate, which allows us to grow high-quality grapes,” Bush says. “Consumers and critics alike embrace the crisp, old-world style of wine that our grapes produce. We don’t see signs of slowed growth anytime soon.”
MGWIC was founded in 1985 and is housed within the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide for research, education, and the promotion of the Michigan wine grape and wine industry as well as stimulate economic development through value-added, sustainable agriculture.
